Anti-peptic ulcer substance from corydalis tubers

ABSTRACT

A method of treating peptic ulcers by oral administration of an active substance from Corydalis tubers, preferably Corydalis bulbosa D.C., or dehydrocorydaline, compositions therefor and processes for the preparation thereof.

United States Patent iii] 3,843,788

Iwasa et al. 1 Oct. 22, 1974 ANTI-PEPTIC ULCER SUBSTANCE FROM CORYDALIS T BE S [52] U.S. Cl. 424/195 Inventors: Junzo lwasa, Kyoto; Shunsuke [51] Int. Cl A6lk727/l4 Nam); Noboru Ikeda both of [58] Field of Search 4-4/195 Osaka; Keiji Nakamura, Amagasaki; Yukinobu Sohji, Neyagawa, all of [56] References cued Japan OTHER PUBLICATIONS Evers, The Chemistry of Drugs, pp. 124-!27. Lon- [73] Assignee. gasizllllizppupzp gilliarmaceutical Co., Ltd., don: Ernest Benn Limited ([926)- p Mercks 1907 lndex, (3rd Ed.), p. 159. published by [22] Filed: Oct. 5, 1972 Merck 84 Co. NY. [21] Appl' 295l63 Primary Examiner-Sam Rosen Related US. Application at Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Clelle W. Upchurch [63] Continuation of Ser. No. 62,632 Augv l0, i970, abandoned, which is a continuation-in-part of Ser. [57] ABSTRACT No. 735162 June 7 1968 abandoned which is a A method of treating peptic ulcers by oral administracomnumomn'pm 9 5 tion of an active substance from Corydalis tubers, 1967 abandoned, which IS a continuation-ln-part of SQLNO'493 267 Oct 5 1965 abandone preferably Corydalzs bulbosa D.(C., or dehydrocorydaline, compositions therefor and processes for the 30 Foreign Application Priority Data Preparanon thereof- Oct. 20, 1964 Japan 39-059633 2 Claims, N0 Drawings ANTI-PEPTIC ULCER SUBSTANCE FROM CORYDALIS TUBERS RELATION TO OTHER APPLICATIONS This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 62,632, filed Aug. 10, 1970 which is a continuation-impart of application Ser. No. 735,162, filed on June 7, 1968 which is, in turn, a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 649,103, filed on June 27, 1967 which is, in turn, a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 493,267, filed on Oct. 5, 1965 all now abandoned.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a new therapeutic method for the treatment of peptic ulcers and new pharmaceutical compositions therefor and methods for the preparation thereof.

More particularly, it relates to a method for the treatment of peptic ulcers by administering an active substance from the tuber of Corydalis genus or dehydrocorydaline, also to pharmaceutical compositions suitable for such treatment and processes for the preparation of the said active substance and dehydrocorydaline.

Some kinds of the tuber of Corydalis genus have been called Yanhusuo in China, Engosaku in Japan and Corydalis tuber in Europe. They have been used as an important medicament as analgesic and antispasmodic in Chinese Medicine and in Homeopathic therapeutics. Also it was a home remedy in folk medicine in various parts of the world. However, heretofore no one has discovered that a substance extracted from the tuber of Corydalis genus and dehydrocorydaline which is a main active component of the said substance are particularly useful in the treatment of gastric ulcers.

The present invention results from a study of the tuberof Corydalis genus. It has now been discovered that the tuber of Corydalis genus includes an antipeptic ulcer active substance, and then the processes of preparing this product at low cost have been discovered too.

The tuber of Corydalis genus of the present invention is a tuber of a plant belonging to the genus Corydalis, including Corydalis bulbosa D.C., Corydalis bulbosa D.C. var. typica Regel, Corydalis ambigua Cham. et Schlecht., Corydalis aurea WilL, Corydalis Nakaii Ishidoya, Corydalis decunbens Pers., Corydalis remota Fisch. var. genuina Maxim, Corydalis ambigua Cham. et Schlecht. var. amurensis Maxim. and Corydalis tuberosa D.C. Among these varieties, Corydalis bulbosa D.C., Corydalis ambigua Cham. et Schlecht., Corydalis ambigua Cham. et Schlecht. var. amurensis Maxim. and Corydalis tuberosa D.C., more particularly, Corydalis bulbosa D.C. and Corydalis ambigua Cham. et Schlecht. are preferred. These tubers contain a large amount of alkaloid, more particularly dehydrocorydaline.

Corydalis bulbosa D.C. and Corydalis ambigua Cham. et Schlecht. are called Chinese Corydalis. The commercial article, however, may include tubers of other varieties.

One object of the present invention is to provide the medical profession with an improved method of treating peptic ulcers by the administration of an active therapeutic substance extracted from Corydalis tubers and dehydrocorydaline.

preparation of the aforesaid active substance and dehydrocorydaline.

According to the present invention, it has been found that the substance from the tuber of Corydalis genus and dehydrocorydaline produced a stronganti-ulcer activity which was clinically proved later. Furthermore, no remarkable side effect, generally induced by cholinolytic drugs, was encountered. r

Although the principal ingredient of the said strong action is believed to be dehydrocorydaline, theactive substance of the invention apparently contains also tertiary bases such as tetrahydropalmatine, protopine and the like, which enhance the anti-ulcer activity. The present active substance from Corydalis tubers and dehydrocorydaline possess superior anti ulcer activity without any anti-cholinergic activity. The mechanism of the activity may be due to a sympathetic action. The activity was experimentally confirmed by suppression of gastric secretion, excretion of pepsin and augmented intestinal motility. r

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The active substance of the invention is obtained by the following procedure. A tuber of Corydalis genus is repeatedly extracted with a solvent including water, a lower alcohol such as methanol, ethanol and propanol, or mixtures thereof. The combined extract is concentrated by evaporation under reduced pressure and the concentrated extract is acidified to a pH value between 1 and 4 by addition of dilute organic or mineral acid, such as acetic, tartaric, citric, hydrochloric, hydrobromic or sulphuric acid. The fat present in the aqueous solution is removed by extracting with a hydrocarbon solvent such as the so-called petroleum ether or petroleum benzin. The defatted acidic layer is made alkaline to a pH value between 7.5 and 12, preferably between 9 and 10, with ammonia, alkali metal hydroxide such as sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide, alkali metal carbonate such as sodium carbonate and potassium carbonate or alkali metal bicarbonate such as sodium bicarbonate and potassium bicarbonate. The resulting precipitate is filtered off from the defatted alkaline solution and the filtrate is extracted with a halogenated hydrocarbon such as chloroform, dichloro methane, trichloroethane and carbon tetrachloride. Being separated from the mixture and then being preferably acidified or neutralized with alcoholic hydrogen chloride, the halogenated hydrocarbon layer is evaporated to dryness under reduced pressure to give an active fraction A.

The active substance may be also prepared by direct extraction from the defatted alkaline solution with the halogenated hydrocarbon abovementioned without filtration step. The active fraction obtained in this way is designated fraction B.

wherein A is an anion.

This compound may be prepared by extracting from tubers of Corydalis genus, but may be more commercially prepared by a synthetic method, i.e., by the following procedure.

hi/U8.

F irst step FCHZCOCH: Second step CI-IaO CIlaO Fifth step In the above scheme, X is a halogen atom, Y is a halogen atom or sulphate anion, Z is a halogen atom, sulphate anion or methylsulphate anion, R and R are each hydrogen atom or methyl group and A is the same as defined above.

In the first step, berberine halide II) is reacted with acetone in the presence of alkali such as sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, sodium methoxide, sodium ethoxide, potassium methoxide or potassium ethoxide to give 8-acetonylberberine III).

The resulting 8acetonylberberine Ill) is reacted with a methyl halide, e.g., methyl chloride, methyl bromide or methyl iodide to give l3-methylberberine halide (IV) in the second step. The reaction may be carried out by heating at approximately C. for several minutes to several hours, preferably 30 minutes to 3 hours in an autoclave or in a sealed tube. Although the obtained l3-methylberberine halide (IV) is in a state of admixture with berberine halide (V), it can be readily purified by utilizing their difference of solubility into organic solvents, that is, l3-methylberberine halide (IV) can be separated from the mixture by extracting with an organic solvent such as dichloromethane or chloroform.

In the third step, the separated l3-methylberberine halide (IV) is subjected to cleaving of methylenedioxy group to give novel compounds (VI). For cleaving of methylenedioxy group, the l3-methylberberine halide (IV) is reacted with anhydrous aluminum chloride, preferably in an aromatic hydrocarbon such as benzene, toluene or xylene and followed by hydrolysis with water or a mineral acid such as hydrochloric acid, hydrobromic acid or hydroiodic acid at a room temperature or preferably at an elevated temperature. Alternatively, the l3-methylberberine halide (IV) is reacted in 8 direct with a mineral acid such as hydrochloric acid,

' obtained novel compounds (VI) are a mixture of 13- methyl-2,3,9,l0-tetrahydroxy-7,8,13,13a-tetradehydroberbinium salts (in the formula (VI), R, and R are both hydrogen atom), l3 methyl l0-methoxy-2,3,9- trihydroxy-7,8,I 3, I 3-tetradehydroberbinium salts in the formula (VI), R is hydrogen atom and R is methyl group) and I 3-methyl-2,3-dihydroxy-9, l 0-dimethoxy- 7,8,13,13a-tetradehydroberbinium salts (in the formula (VI), R and R are both methyl group). The ratio of the mixture is varied by reaction reagents and the reaction condition. However, these mixture can be used for the next step as it is, i.e., without purification.

In the fourth step, the obtained compounds (VI) are methylated by reacting with a conventional methylating agent such as dimethyl sulphate or methyl iodide to give dehydrocorydaline salts (VII) which are a mixture of various kinds of salts such as chloride, bromide, iodide, sulphate or methylsulphate.

The obtained dehydrocorydaline salts (VII) are led to the desired single salt of dehydrocorydaline by the following fifth and sixth steps.

In the fifth step, the dehydrocorydaline salts (VII) are led to 8-acetonyldehydrocorydaline (VIII) in the same manner as in the first step, i.e., by reacting with acetone in the presence of alkali. The dehydrocorydalinesalts (VII) obtained by the fourth step may further include a small amount of impurity suchas partially methylated compounds, e.g., l3-methyl-9- hydroxy-2,3 l 0-trimethoxy-7,8, l 3,13a-tetradehy-. droberbinium salt. However, the impurity can be readily separated out in this fifth step, that is, the partially methylated compounds may be changed to their alkali metal salts soluble in water in the fifth step and then readily separted out from the insoluble 8- acetonyldehydrocorydaline (VIII).

In the sixth step, 8-acetonyldehydrocorydaline (VIII) obtained above is reacted with an acid in a solvent such as water, methanol, ethanol or mixture thereof to give a desired dehydrocorydaline salt I). The acid used in the reaction may be an inorganic acid such as hydrochloric, hydrobromic, hydroiodic, nitric, sulphuric acid or the like or an organic acid such as tannic, glycyrrhizic, gallic, benzilic, anisic, D-glucuronic, citric acid or the like.

The desired salt of dehydrocorydaline may be alternatively prepared as follows:

A salt of dehydrocorydaline is converted into its free base by reacting with an alkali metal hydroxide or alkoxide such as sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, sodium methoxide or potassium ethoxide and then the free base is reacted with an acid above-mentioned. Alternatively, a salt of dehydrocorydaline is passed through a column of an anion exchange resin conditioned for desired acid.

The active substance from Corydalis tubers and dehydrocorydaline of the invention may be administered orally in a variety of forms, such as tablets, powders or capsules. Various vehicles, binders and lubricants which are compatible with the active substance are employed such as starch, lactose, microcrystalline cellulose, sugar, magnesium stearate or the like, as is wellknown in the art. I

For treatment of peptic ulcers by the active substance from Corydalis tubers and dehydrocorydaline in humans the required dosage per day is within the range 6 of 0.l to 10 mg. per kg. of body weight and 0.l to 7 mg. per kg. of body weight, respectively. A preferred dosage per day is within the range of 0.5 to 5 mg. per kg. of body weight and 0.3 to 3 mg. per kg. of body weight, respectively, more particularly the range of I to 2 mg. per kg. of body weight and 0.8 to 1.5 mg. per kg. of body weight, respectively. The total dosage may be orally administered in smaller portions three or four times daily, as determined by the attending physician.

The preparation of the active substance from Corydalis tubers and dehydrocorydaline and the manufacture of a pharmaceutical composition containing the active substance or. dehydrocorydaline are set out in the following Examples which are illustrative but not limiting.

EXAMPLE I 5.0 kg. of powdered tuber of Corydalis bubosa D.C. were extracted four times, each for 4 hours with 16 liters of methanol. The combined extracts were evaporated under reduced pressure and thus concentrated extract was added to 2 liters of 1.0 percent by volume aqueous acetic acid. This mixture was treated with 300 g. of petroleum ether (b.p. 30-40C.) to remove the fat. The aqueous acidic layer was then made alkaline with gaseous ammonia to pH 9 and filtered. The filtrate was extracted several times with. 3.5 liters of chloroform. The combined chloroform extracts were dried over anhydrous sodium sulphate, and concentrated by evaporation under reduced pressure. The residue was dissolved in ml. of methanol and then neutralized with methanolic hydrogen chloride. Methanol was evaporated under reduced pressure and there was obtained 24.5 g. of the fraction A as yellowish brown powder suitable for subsequent clinical use.

EXAMPLE 2 5.0 kg. of powdered tuber of Corydalis bulbosa D.C. were extracted four times, each for 4 hours with 16 liters of methanol-water (5:1, v/v). The combined extracts were evaporated under reduced pressure to yield a concentrated aqueous methanol extract of the tuber of Corydalis bulbosa D.C. This extract was added to 2 liters of 10 percent by volume aqueous acetic acid and fat was removed byextraction with 300 g. of petroleum ether (b.p. 30-40C.). The aqueous acidic layer was made alkaline to pH 9 with gaseous ammonia, and extracted several times with 3 liters of chloroform. The combined chloroform extracts were dried over anhydrous sodium sulphate, and concentrated under reduced pressure. The residue was added to 300 ml. of ethanol and then neutralized with et-hanolic hydrogen chloride. The mixture was evaporated to dryness under reduced pressure to yield 50 g. of the fraction B as a yellowish brown powder suitable for subsequent clinical use.

The fraction B had the following extinction coefficients in the ultra-violet and visible spectra: Amax. (Ei 228mg (530-545), 280mg (280-295), 340mg. (-175), 430mg (35-45).

EXAMPLE 3 5.0 kg. of powdered tuber of Corydalis bulbosa D.C. were extracted four times, each for 4 hours with 16 liters of methanol. The combined extracts were evaporated under reduced pressure and thus concentrated extract was added to 2 liters of 10 percent by volume aqueous acetic acid. The mixture was treated with 300 g. of petroleum ether b.p. 30-40C.) to remove fat. The aqueous acidic layer was then made alkaline with 10 percent by weight sodium hydroxide aqueous solution to pH 9 and filtered. The filtrate was extracted several times with 3.5 liters of chloroform. The combined chloroform extracts were dried over anhydrous sodium sulphate and concentrated by evaporation under reduced pressure. The residue was dissolved in 100 ml. of methanol and then neutralized with methanolic hydrogen chloride. Methanol was evaporated under reduced pressure and there was obtained 24.5 g. of the fraction A as yellowish brown powder suitable for subsequent clinical use.

EXAMPLE 4 5.0 kg. of powdered tuber of Corydalis bulbosa D.C. were extracted four times, each 4 hours with 16 liters of methanol-water 5:1, v/v). The combined extracts were evaporated under reduced pressure to yield a concentrated aqueous methanol extract. The extract was added to 2 liters of percent by volume aqueous acetic acid and extracted with 300 g. of petroleum ether b.p. 30-40C.) to remove fat. The aqueous acidic layer was made alkaline with 10 percent by weight sodium carbonate aqueous solution to pH 9, and then extracted several times with 3 liters of chloroform. The combined chloroform extracts were dried over anhydrous sodium sulphate and concentrated under reduced pressure. The residue was added to 300 ml. of ethanol and then neutralized with ethanolic hydrogen chloride. The mixture was evaporated to dryness under reduced pressure to yield 50 g. of the fraction B as a yellowish brown powder suitable for subsequent clinical use.

EXAMPLE 5 Tablets were made of the following formulation.

Fraction B 12.5

- Lactose 90 Corn starch 90.5 Corn starch (for paste) 6.0 Magnesium stearate 1 .0 Total 200.0

12.5 mg. of the fraction B obtained by Example 2 and the other materials were mixed and granulated with a starch paste. The mixture was passed through a No. 12 mesh screen. The wet granulate was dried overnight in a oven at 40C. The dried granulate was passed through a No. 16 mesh screen, and was mixed with the magnesium stearate. The mixture was compressed into flatfaced tablets containing about 12.5 mg. of the active substance per tablet.

EXAMPLE 6 Tablets were made of the following formulation.

mg.) 'Dehydrocorydaline chloride 15.0 Microcrystalline cellulose 75.0 Corn starch 8.0 Light silicic acid anhydride 1.0 Magnesium stearate l .0 Total 100.0

. 8 EXAMPLE 7 v 820 g. of the powder of the tuber of Corydalis ambigua Cham. et Schlecht. var. amurensis Maxim. were extracted four times, each for 4 hours with v6 liters of ethanol-water 5 :1, v/v). The combined extracts were treated in the same way as described in Example 2 to give 4.4 g. of the fraction B which showed similar physical constants to those of fraction B in Example 2.

EXAMPLE 8 a. To 3 kg. of berberine chloride were added 3 liters of water and further 15 liters of acetone and 10 liters of 50 percent by weight sodium hydroxide aqueous solution. The mixture was violently shaken for 5 minutes in a separating funnel. The acetone layer was separated. After concentrating the acetone solution, the resulting precipitate was recrystallized from acetone to give 2.42 kg. of 8-acetonylberberine.

b. 1.1 kg. of thus obtained 8-acetonylberberine was heated with 3 liters of methyl iodide for 3 hours at 100C. in an autoclave. The reaction mixture was evaporated to remove the excess methyl iodide. To the resulting residue was added 100 liters of dichloromethane. The dischloromethane solution was collected and evaporated to remove the solvent. The resulting residue was recrystallized from methanol to give 600 g. of 13-methylberberine iodide.

c. A mixture of 100 g. of l3-methylberberine iodide, 500 g. of anhydrous aluminum chloride was heated on oil bath at 150 160C. with agitation for 1 hour. The reaction mixture was added to a diluted hydrochloric acid cooled with ice. The reaction mixture was heated on water bath for 1 hour and then ice-cooled. The resulting precipitate was separated by filtration and recrystallized from methanol to give g. of 13-methyl- 2,3,9,l0-tetrahydroxy-7,8,13,13a-tetradehydroberbinium chloride as a brownish yellow crystal having a decomposition point of 250C.

Elementary analysis for C H O NCI:

Calculated: C 62.34%,1-1 4.65%, N 4.04%, Cl 10.22%

Found: C 62.38%, H 4.78%, N 3.93%, CI 10.25%

d. 'To 300 ml. of water was suspended g. of 13- methyl-2,3,9,10-tetrahydroxy-7,8,13,1 3a-tetradehydroberbinium chloride. To the suspension were added with agitation 1 liter of 10 percent by weight sodium hydroxide aqueous solution and 150 ml. of dimethyl sulphate. After reacting at room temperature for 5 hours, the mixture was treated with concentrated ammonia to decompose the excess dimethyl sulphate and then made acidic by adding hydrochloric acid. The mixture was ice-cooled and the resulting precipitate was separated by filtration to give g. of dehydrocorydaline mixed salts. I

e. To 1.5 liter of water was dissolved 80 g. of above obtained dehydrocorydaline mixed salts. To the solution was added 50 ml. of acetone and 45 g. of sodium hydroxide and the mixture was agitated to give a pre- Found: C 58.03%, H 6.81%, N 3.14%, CI 7.76%, E

In the above (e) step, various kinds of acids were used instead of hydrochloric acid to give the following various salts:

imiiydmcmydulinc bromide DehydrocorydaIine iodide .2l0-2l2C. idec.) .236238C. (dec.)

[)ehydrocorydaline nitrate m.p. 245247C. ldec.) Dehydrocorydaline tannate m.p. 207-212C. tdec.) Dehydrocorydaline glycyrrhizate mp. 221-224C. tdec.) Dehydrocorydaline gallate mp 248-249C. tdec.) Dehydrocorydaline benzilate m.p. l84-l88C. idec.) Dehydrocorydaline anisate m.p. l60l63C. tdec.) Dehydrocorydaline D-glucuronate mp 168-170C. (dec.) Dehydrocorydaline citrate mp. 206208C. tdec.)

Extracts and dehydrocorydaline prepared in accordance with the foregoing procedure were administered to laboratory test animals following established procedures and were found to exhibit unexpected and desirable pharmacological properties. The following Examples are representative of such determinations. Dehydrocorydaline used in the following Examples was in a form of its hydrochloric acid salt.

EXAMPLE 9 The antispasmolytic activity of fraction B and dehydrocorydaline was compared with several conventional antispasmolytic agents, by the conventional isolated guinea pig ileum test. The results ED in g./ml.) are shown in Table I.

Table 1 Anti- *1 Anti-*2 Anti- *3 Drugs acetylcholine BaCl, histamine Fraction B 2.l 10 1.9Xl0 4.6 l0 Dehydrocorydaline 1.5X' 5X10 5X10 Atropine sulphate l.5 10' 2.0)(10 5.9)(10- Propantheline bromide 5.5 10 Papaverine 3.2 l0" 2.4 l0 4.6XIO

EXAMPLE 10 The influence on the parasympathomimetic agents of Fraction B and dehydrocorydaline was demonstrated in three animal tests as follows:

a. Inhibitory action on the pilocarpine-induced salivation Method: Male dd-mice weighing 18 20 g. were given intraperitoneally with pilocarpine hydrochloride 0.2 mg./mice) and the induced salivation was observed for several hours after the injection. The

results are set forth in the following Table 2.

Table 2 Dose in mgJkg.

Drugs s.c. salivation Control Atropine sulphate Dehydrocorydaline Fraction B mQMoc-Aw- P9900 ouiui Table 3 Dose Salivation Tremor Drugs mgJkg.

Sc. 30 9O I20min. 30 60 l20min.

Control 5/5 '5/5 5/5 5/5 5/5 5/5 5/5 5/5 Atropine 3O 0/5 0/5 0/5 O/S 0/5 0/5 0/5 0/5 sulphate 10 0/5 O/S 0/5 0/5 0/5 0/5 0/5 0/5 5 (1/5 0/5 0/5 O/S 0/5 0/5 0/5 0/5 Dehydro- 20 5/5 5/5 5/5 5/5 5/5 5/5 5/5 5/5 corydaline l0 5/5 5/5 5/5 5/5 5/5 5/5 5/5 5/5 5 5/5 5/5 5/5 5/5 5/5 5/5 5/5 5/5 Fraction B 15 5/5 5/5 5/5 5/5 5/5 5/5 5/5 5/5 7.5 5/5 5/5 5/5 5/5 5/5 5/5 5/5 5/5 2.5 5/5 5/5 5/5 5/5 5/5 5/5 5/5 5/5 Number of mice with salivation/total number of tested mice Number of mice with tremor/total number of tested mice Result: Fraction B and dehydrocorydaline donot inhibit tremoline-induced salivation and tremor in mice, while atropine significantly inhibits the responses.

c. Influence on the pupil-diameter in male dd-mice Method: The drugs to be tested were given subcutaneously to male dd-mice weighing 18 20 g. Mice Table 4 Dose (pupil diameter in mm.) Drugs mgJkg. Mydriatic activitv s.c. 0 15 30 60 min.

Control 0 0.44 0.50 0.52 0.48 0.43 0.44 Atropine 0.002 0.43 0.30 0.97 0.60 0.45 0.38 sulphate 0.004 0.53 1.70 2.13 1.98 1.10 0.82 0.006 0.60 1.70 2.20 1.98 1.60 1.14 Dehydro- 0.02 0.46 0.46 0.50 0.46 0.40 Corydaline 0.04 0.49 0.46 0.48 0.44 0.43

Table 4 Continued Dose (pupil diameter in mm.) Drugs mg./kg. Mvdriatic activity 5.0. 15 30 60 120 180 min.

0.08 0.40 0.36 0.28 0.25 0.28 0.29 0.16 0.38 0.32 0.28 0.28 0.31 0.32 Fraction B 2.5 0.36 0.36 0.33 0.34 0.32 0.35 7.5 0.39 0.32 0.31 0.32 0.29 0.31 15.0 0.33 0.29 0.33 0.31 0.29 031 Result: Fraction B and dehydrocorydaline do not Result: Dehydrocorydaline exhibits pepsin content show the pupil dilatation. and gastric secretion. From these results it will be apparent that the active substance from Corydalis tubers and dehydrocorydaline exhibit little anti-acetylcholine action. i.e., 15 EXAMPLE 12 atropine-like action, and that their anti-secretory activity is not atributable to anti-cholinergic mechanisms.

Antigastric ulcer activity in pylorus ligated rats EXAMPLE 1 1 Method: B. Shay el al: Gastroenterol. Vol. 5 page 43, Influence on the pepsin activity in gastric juice and 20 1945 Male Wistar rats: fasting for 48hours and pygastric juice volume in the pylorus ligated rats lorus ligation for 18 hours. The data so obtained Method: Male Wistar rats weighing 200 220 g. were are shown in Table 6.

used. The pylorus ligation was performed during Result: ln pylorus ligated rats, Fraction B and dehyether anesthesia and then the animals were sacridrocorydaline significantly reduced the gastric ficed by over dose of ether. For 6 hours after the 25 j l volume and ulcer severity.

Table 6 Num- Dose Gastric volume Ulcer Ulcer index Gastric ber Drugs of mg./kg. ml./l00 g. of 2/10 s.c. body weight Control 75 7.16 69/75= 3.02 8/75==* Fraction B 10 50 5.23 6/10 1.80 GHQ 10 100 3.21 2/10 1.00 0/10 Dehydrocorydaline 4 6.25 6.18 4/4 2.00 0/4 4 12.5 3.39 1/4 0.75 0/4 4 25 0.79 0/4 0 0/4 4 50 0.43 0/4 0 0/4 Atropine sulphate 8 5 5.89 8/8 6 3.86 5/6. 6 1.69 0/6 Papaverine HCl 5 8.0l 5/5 Ulcer index: cf. E. Adami et al; Arch. intern. Pharmacodyn. Vol. 147. page ll3, i964 0: no lesion hemorrhage l- 5 small ulcer (3 mm.) many small ulcers (more than 5) or single large size ulcer (more than 3 mm.) many large ulcers perforated ulcer Number of rats with ulcer rumen/number of tested rats Number of rats with gastric perforation/number of tested rats sacrifice, gastric juice volume was measured. The EXAMPLE 3 pepsin activity was determined by the method of Anson et al. (J. Gen. PhysioL, Vol. 22, page 79, 50 1933) The results are set out in the following Table Influence on free and total acidities, pH, ulcer occurrence and gastric juice volume in the pylorus ligated rat Method: The Shay rats were sacrificed at 18 hours Table 5 after the pylorus ligation. Free and total acidities V were measured by the titration (N/100 sodium hy- Dru p f i gg droxide) using the indicator of Toepfer and phe- COl'l g 5 3, MEAL/6 hm Z g nolphthaleln, respectively. The ulcer 1ndex calculated as descr1bed 1n Example 12, appears in the Control 6 [65911.81 3.771088 Table 7 Dehydro 1.5 5 82210.38 2.42i0.37 corydaline 3.0 5 3.89:0.60 1.68:0.12 Result. Dehydrocorydal ne significantly reduced the 3.8 2 31228.? 02:11: free ac1d1ty, total ac1d1ty, pH, ulcer index and gastric juice volume.

Table 7 Num- Dose Free Total Ulcer Ulcer Gastric juice ber Drug of mgJkg. acidity acidity pH index per ml./l00 g. of rats s.c. p.Eq./rat total body weight Control 4 279.2 483.1 1.70 2.67 4/4 6 2 8. Dehydrocory'daline 4 7.5 21 1.0 372.! 1.70 2.00 4/4 6.

Table 7 Continued Nbum- Dose Free Total Ulcer Ulcer Gastric juice er Drug of mg./kg. acidity acidity pH index per ml./100 g. of

rats s.c. pEqJrat total body weight EXAMPLE 14 Table Effects on histamine activity in the dog with Heiden- 1 hain pouch Method: Male mongrel dog with Heidenhain pouch Ulcer Ulcer wei hin 9.5 k was iven the dru s to be tested her g g g g g Drugs of mg./kg. incidence index* at one hour before the subcutaneous in ection of ms mandala histamine HCl (0.1 mg./kg.) and pyribenzamine HCl 1.25 mg./kg.). Gastric juice collected for next B 6 8 23-3 50 minutes was as shown in Table 8. Dehydrp- 5 12,5 60.0 2.22 Result: Fraction B and dehydrocorydaline inhibited Corydalme 5 the histamine-inducedgast ric secretion in the dog U: The Same like index as in Example 2 w1th Heidenham pouch. h1stam1ne-1nduced gastric Table 8 Dose Gastric Free acidity Total acidity Gastric pH Drugs mg./kg. secretion total lml. total /ml.

s.c. ml mEq. mEq.

Control 10.2 0.97 0.0097 1.30 0.130 1.25 Fraction B 50 0.4 0.003 0.0075 0.027 0.0675 3.15 Dehydrocorydaline 6 8.4 0.815 0.097 1.234 0.147 1.00

EXAMPLE 15 EXAMPLE 17 Effects on histamine activity in the dog with a simple 3 gastric fistula Witzels gastrostomy) Method: Histamine sulphate 0.1 mg./kg.) and pyribenzamine l-lCl 1.25 mg./kg.) were injected subcutaneously 1 hour after the drugs tobe tested were subcutaneously administered to the dog. For

Anti-cortisone ulcer activity Method: To male Wistar rats weighing 150 g., fasting for 18 hours, were administered subcutaneously cortisone acetate 10 mg,/rat) and drug daily for next four. days with fasting. (A. Robert and J. A. Nezamis, Proc. Soc. exptl. Biol. Med. Vol. 99, page next 1.5 hours. gastric juice was collected for anal- 40 443, 1958) The results are shown in Table 11. ysis of the volume, free acidity and total acidity. Table 1] The results of this demonstrahon were so shown 1 Table 9.

Drug Num- Dose Ulcer Ulcer mdex Table 9 her r of mgJkg. 1nc1dence glandular rats s.c. Dose Gastric Free total Drugs mg./kg. secretion acidity acidity Control 10 saline 100 3.78 s.c. ml. mEq. mEq. Fraction B 5 100 80 2.50

Control 54.] 5.356 6.831 '1 The same index as used in Example 12 Fraction B 50 15.7 0.880 1.340 Dehydrocorydaline 20 23.0 1.820 I 2.310

Result: Fraction B and dehydrocorydaline inhibited the histamine-induced gastric secretion, free acidity and total acidity in the dog with a simple gastric fistula.

EXAMPLE 16 Anti-stress ulcer activity EXAMPLE 18 Anti-fasting ulcer activity Method: To male Wister rats weighing 250 g. were administered drug to be tested daily with fasting for 7 days, and further 10 percent glucose (50 ml./kg., p.o.) daily. (E. Adami et al., Arch. intern. pharmacodyn. Vol. 147, page 113, 1964) The results are shown in Table 12.

Table 12 Drug No. dose Gastric ulcer of mgJkg. Glandular Rumen rats index indexhu 1 Control 9 saline 67 1.44 i 100 3.67 Fraction B 7 100 86 2.001 2.29

' The same index as in Example 12 Example 19 Effect of vagotomy on the inhibitory action of dehydrocorydaline to the gastric secretory function in rats Bilateral vagotomy at the caudal site of diaphragma was performed to rats for studying the influence of vagotomy on the inhibitory action of dehydrocorydaline to the gastric secretory function. After vagotomy, the secretory volume of gastric juice was measured. The pylorus of rats was ligated at 24 hours before the measurement of the volume of gastric juice. The results are shown in Table 13.

As shown in Table 13, the volume of gastric juice in rats was significantly reduced by vagotomy. On the other hand, the anti-secretory action of dehydrocorydaline was not affected by vagotomy.

Table 13 Dose Num- Gastric juice volume ber Drug mgJkg. of ml./100 g. of body s.c. rats weight intact normal rats Control 8 7.65 i 0.631 Dehydrocorydaline 25 0.79 i 0.093

Vagotomized rats Control 7 1.90 i 0.318 Dehydrocorydaline 25 7 0.59 i 0.242

EXAMPLE 20 Effect of adrenalectomy on the inhibitory action of dehydrocorydaline to the gastric secretory function in rats The pylorus of bilateral adrenalectomized rats, maintained with saline for 6 days, was ligated and the secretory volume of gastric juice was measured for 6 hours. Dehydrocorydaline was administered subcutaneously immediately after the ligation and then the effect of dehydrocorydaline on the secretory volume of gastric juice in adrenalectomized rats was observed and compared with that in intact normal rats without adrenalectomy. The results are shown in Table 14.

As shown in Table 14, in adrenalectomized rats, the anti-secretory action of dehydrocorydaline was decreased, while in intact normal rats, the said action appeared as usual.

Table 14 Num- Dose Gastric juice volume ber Drug of mg./kg. ml./100 g. of body rats s.c. weight Adrenalectomized rats Control 2.83 t 0.307 Dehydrocorydaline 8 6 2.28 i 0.439 Intact normal rats Control 6 3.77 i 0.881 Dehydrocorydaline 5 6 0.94 i 0.238

EXAMPLE 21 Effects of reserpine and dopa( 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine) on the inhibitory action of dehydrocorydaline to the secretory function in rats Reserpine, dopa and/or dehydrocordaline, alone or in a combination as shown in the following Table 15, were administered subcutaneously to some groups of rats in a dose of 4 mg. per kg., 200 mg. per kg. and 6 mg. per kg. of body weight, respectively. Dehydrocorydaline was administered at the same time as pylorus was ligated. Reserpine and DL-dopa were administered at 24 hours and 30 minutes before the pylorus ligation and the effects of reserpine and/0r dopa on the antisecretory action of dehydrocorydaline was observed. The results are shown in Table 15.

As shown in Table 15, the anti-secretory action of dehydrocorydaline was significantly suppressed by preadministration of reserpine but not by dopa. When dope was administered after administration of reserpine, the effect of reserpine on the anti-secretory action of dehydrocorydaline was slightly inhibited.

Effects on blood pressure and pressure responses induced by acetylchlorine, epinephrine and nicotine in cats.

To cats anesthetized by administering intraperitoneally 35 mg. per kg. of body weight of sodium pentobarbital was administered intravenously dehydrocorydaline, and then the effects of dehydrocorydaline on blood pressure was observed. To other groups of anesthetized cats were injected intravenously acetylcholine l ag/kg), epinephrine (3 ug/kg.) or nicotine (5 rig/kg.) and further dehydrocorydaline, and then the influences of dehydrocorydaline on the change of blood pressure induced by acetylchlorine, epinephrine or nicotine were also observed. The results are shown in Table 16.

As shown in Table 16, the administration of dehydrocorydaline in doses of 0.3, 1.0 and 3.0 mg. per kg. of body weight caused the lowering of blood pressure which came back to the normal level within about 1 5 minutes. Dehydrocorydaline did not alter the depressor response induced by acetylchloine or the pressor response induced by nicotine. The pressor response induced by epinephrine was potentiated by 1 mg. per kg.

of body weight of dehydrocorydaline, but on the contrary, inhibited by 3mg. per kg. of body weight of dehydrocorydaline.

Table 16-- Continued Effect on monoamine oxidase activity Dose Maximal 1 Duration The effect of dehydrocorydaline or monoamine oxi- Drugs a s 1 5 minute dase activity was examined both in vivo and in vitro by I mm g 5 using the manometric method (K. Nakamura, Y. gt igglj g L0 H90 Masuda, H. Tatsumi and K. Fujimoto: Jap J Phar- 3.0 +19.2 macoL, V01. 13, page 186, 1963). In v1vo experiments, V p I wistar'male rats were used, and dehydrocorydaline was ,j;; dehydmmydm back injected subcutaneously at various time before the sacrification. The effect of dehydrocorydaline on mono- From the results i E l 9 10 19 20 21 and amine oxidase activity was compared with those of nial- 22, it is suggested that sympathetic mechanism may be amidei iSOHiCOtiHiC acid -(benzylcarbamoyn yU- involved in the action of dehydrocorydaline on the gashydrazide and iproniazid: lSOlliCOtll'llC acid 2-isopropy1- n-i secretory f ti 15 hydrazlilde. The results are shown in Tables 18 and 19. As 5 own in Tables 18 and 19, dehydrocorydaline in EXAMPLE 23 a dose of mg. per kg. of body weightin vivo or 10' Effect on catecholamine uptake in rat atrial muscle g./ml. in vitro, did not inhibit the monoamine oxidase Adult Wistar rats were sacrificed and the heart was activity of brain, liver and stomach, while nialamide quickly removed and preserved in an oxigenated and iproniazid significantly inhibited the said activity.

Table 18 Number Dose Time after Monoamine oxidase activity Drugs of mg./kg. administration #1. 02/100 mg.[60 min.

rats s.c. hour Brain Liver Stomach Control 5 0 28502153 60.82fi.07 13.921:1. 5s Dehydrocorydaline 5 30 3 27.72i1.53 63.10fl.36 10.14:1.63 5 30 6 27.061097 54481-572 1298:1122 5 .30 24 26.50-10.71 570814.00 134810.84 Nialamide 5 30 3 9.86i0.81* s.70:0.74* 1056x071 5 30 6 12.78-12.20 7.40:1.94* 5.2o:0.s9* 5 30 24 16.421.11.39 15.20:1.32* 6.80i1.12**

P 0.0|. P O.l)5

Krebs-Henseleits solution. The atrium was then iso- Table 19 lated and incubated with l-norepinephrine 5X10"? g./m1.) at 37C. for 10 minutes. After the incubation, Concentration Monoamine oxidase activity the atrium was rinsed briefly with a Krebs-Henseleits Drugs s 0 u e g solution, blotted on filter paper, weighed and then its amine contents were assayed. The drugs to be tested 0 Control 21.5 were added at 90 minutes before the incubation. The

corydallne 10 4 21.9 -2.1 effect of dehydrocorydahne on amme contents, 1.e., the -6 214 05 effects on the uptake of norepinephrine in rat atrial lpwniazid 1.5 93.1 muscle was compared with that of irnipramine: 5-( 3- }3-'. dimethylaminopropyl)- l 0,1 l-dihydro-SH- dibenzo[b,f]azepine which has been used as antidepressant. The results are shown in Table 17.

As shown in Table 17, both of dehydrocorydaline and imipramine at medium concentration of 1X10 EXAMPLE 25 and/or 5X10 g./m1. greatly inhibited the uptake of norepinephrine. These results indicate that dehydrocol'ydallne may effectively block the membrane amme Effect on catechole-O-methyltransferase activity in P p vitro Table 17 S5 Adult Wistar male rats were sacrificed and the liver was quickly removed. The liver was then homogenized No Dose Norepinephrins together with isotonic potassium chloride solution. Drugs of s -l HBJE' of to A From this homogenate, the partially purified enzyme rats was finally obtained by the method according to J. Ax- Non-treatment 4 1.20 1*: 0.06 elrod (J. Biol. Chemist., Vol. 233, page 702, 1958). To pi p i 4 0061A) norepinephrine solutions in various concentrations Norepmephrme dehydrocorydaline 4 -4 2.53 i 0,48 17,6 were added the part1ally purified enzyme together w1th Nq g w 4 IXWB 2 36 +016 l dehydrocorydaline in various concentrations. As the i 'fggfg gi i 4 Z, control, the partially purified enzyme was added alone gorepinepgrine 4 204 i 0.2401) to thte noredpifnephrine solutigns. Then, normethaneplhrine orme rom norepinep rine was measured byt e ifdilgifiigiiiii"? 4 5X10 modified method of H. Ozawa (Ya kugaku-Zasshi, Vol. imipramine 4 5X108 1.26 i 0.24 38.2

87, page 345, 1967). The results are shown in Table 20.

Table 20 Table '21 Concentration Normethanephrine formed Administration of Control H20 min.) route Sex LD in mg./kg. norepinephrine Concentration of (g./ml-) hydro orydalin lgJml.) Fraction B i.v. M 52.1 10* 10' F 479 s.c. M 90.0 10 26.5 24.0 27.0 27.3 F 89.0 5X10 18.0 16.3 17.5 18.0 p.o. M 917 3.3Xl0 13.7 12.3 13.0 13.6 F 1000 2.5Xl0" 11.3 10.3 10.8 11.0 10 Dehydrocorydaline i.v. M 16.0 2.0Xl0 9.5 8.3 8.7 8.7 P 9.5 s.c. M 17.0 F 16.2 p.o. M 410 F 430 The results obtained in Examples 22, 23, 24 and 25 demonstrated that dehydrocorydaline altered the pres- S. sor response of epinephrine and greatly inhibited the uptake of catecholamine, while dehydrocorydaline diol mh'blt bot}? of monoamme oxldase acnvlty m b. Animal: male and female rats, Wistar-strain, weighvitro and in VlVO and the catechole-O- mg 150 170 g I I I I re methyltransferase actwlty m mm There has bllen Observation: one dose 5 rats, 1 week observation ported by Bass and Patterson that catechloamtne exerted a gastric anti-secretory effect in rats, and in general, drugs increasing the biological half life of cate- Table 22 cholamine decreased gastric secretion (P. Bass and'M. A. Patterson: J. PharmacoL, Vol. 156, page 143, 1967). lg jg Sex LD in m [k It is suggested that the antisecretory action of dehydrocorydaline is affected by altering the catecholamine ac- Fraction B i.v. lg s.c. M 260 F 220 p.o. M 2000 EXAMPLE 26 F Dehydrocorydaline i.v. M 71.0 F 56.0 s.c. M 70.0 Acute lethal toxicity Pa 5 33 a. Animal: male and female mice, ddN-stram, weighing F 1000 I.V.=ln ravenous Observation: one dose 10 mice, 1 week observas c =subcumeous tlOIl p.o.=by mouth Table 23 Patient Main Treatment 0. Age Sex Diagnosis Medication subjective symptom evaluation Side effect 1 53 M Gastric ulcer 100"'"- X 33"""' Epigastric pain Excellent 2 46 M Duodenal ulcer 100 X 35 Epigastric fulness Good 3 21 M Duodenal ulcer 100 X 26 Epigastric pain Good 4 44 M Gastric ulcer 100 X 35 Epigastric pain Excellent 5 29 M Gastric ulcer 100 X 47 Epigastric pain Excellent Constipation 6 M Gastric ulcer 100 X 7 Epigastric pain Good 7 58 M Gastric ulcer 100 X Epigastric pain Good 8 33 M Duodenal ulcer X 36 Epigastric pain Excellent Pyrosis. fever 9 24 M Duodenal ulcer 100 X 34 Epigastric pain Good 10 50 M Duodenal ulcer 100 X 35 Epigastric pain Excellent Constipation 1 l 32 M Gastric ulcer 100 X 10 Epigastn'c pain Good Pyrosis l2 48 M Duodenal ulcer 100 X 15 Epigastric pain Good L3 24 M Duodenal ulcer 100 X 14 Epigastric pain Good 14 3| F Gastric ulcer 100 X 7 Nausea. epigastric Not improved fulness 15 45 M Anastomotic 100 X 12 Epigastric pain Not improved ulcer 16 56 F Gastric ulcer 100 X 57 Pyrosis. epigastric Excellent Fever pain l7 17 M Gastric ulcer 100 X 30 Epigastric pain Good 18 53 M Duodenal ulcer 100 X 34 Pyrosis. epigastric Good pam 19 I 28 M Duodenal ulcer 100 X 40 Abdominal pain Good 20 39 M Gastric ulcer 100 X 35 Epigastric pain Good 21 22 M Duodenal ulcer 100 X 34 Nausea Not improved 22 '28 M Gastric ulcer 100 X Epigastric pain Excellent 23 37 F Duodenal ulcer 100 Y X I00 Epigastric pain Excellent EXAMPLE 27 A clinical study was made covering male patients and three female patients, a total of 23, ages ranging from 17 to 58 years. Of these, 11 patients has gastric ulcer, 11 duodenal ulcer and 1 had an anastomotic ulcer. In all of them, ulcer niche was observed by roentgenogram examination. The duration of symptoms be fore the treatment-varied from 4 days to 6 years. The active substance, in tablets obtained in Example 5, was administered orally four times per day (two tablets per time) to each patient. Thus 100 mg. of the active substance was given to each patient per day of treatment. The period of treatment ranged from 7 to 120 days. The pertinent data from this study appear in Table 23.

The results based upon subjective symptoms are presented in Table 24. Of the 17 patients describing pain before the treatment, such symptoms diminished within a week after the start of treatment for 14 patients. In two patients pain recurred during treatment in spite of diminishing once at from 4 to 7th day after the start of treatment and thus the treatment is considered non-effective. In seven of eight patients describing epigastric fullness associated with sour or maldodorous eructations, the symptoms diminished within a week after the start of treatment. In the subjects bearing acidismus such as pyrosis, eructation and acid eructation, nausea or vomiting, the evaluation of the effect is somewhat uncertain due to the limited number of such patients.

The results in regard to ulcer niche are shown in Table 25. Of 1 1 patients with gastric ulcer, disappearance of the niche was observed in four and decrease of the niche in two. For 11 patients with duodenal ulcer, disappearance of the niche was observed in five and decrease of the niche in four. The least favorable result occurred with the patient having an anastomotic ulcer. The data pertaining to the counteraction of gastric hyperacidity are shown in Table 26. The effect was investigated by using the basal and histamine-stimulated gastric secretion methods. (J. B. Kirsner et al: Gastroenterogy Vol. 23, pages 199 218, 1953) Decrease of free acidity was observed in seven of nine cases tested by the basal gastric secretion method and in seven of eight cases tested by the histamine-stimulated gastric secretion method.

Gastric ulcer 4 2 2 Duodenal ulcer 5 4 0 Table 26 Method Increase No change Decrease 5 Basic secretion 2 0 7 Histamine secretion 1 0 7 EXAMPLE 2 8 Clinical and pharmacological study To two male patients and one femalepaticnt having gastric ulcer was administered orally dehydrocorydaline in a dose of 80 mg. per'day (four times per day) for 1 month. Before and after the treatment, the alkali time by means of alkali test after giving sodium bicarbonate as a stimulant was measured by using pH telemetering capsule and compared each other.

As the results, there was observed a prolongation of the alkali time and an improvement in the gastric juice secretory pattern.

To other two male patients was administered orally dehydrocorydaline in a dose of 40 mg. or mg. per day for 1 month and the stable pH level of gastric juice and the alkali time by means of alkali test were measured in the same manner as described above to result in a prolongation of the alkali time and an ascent of the stable pH level.

To another male patient was administered orally dehydrocorydaline in a dose of 40 mg. Then, the secretory volume of gastric juice and further the volume of hydrochloric acid and pepsin in gastric juice were inhibited.

EXAMPLE 29 Clinical studies were made covering male patients and 32 female patients, a total of 107, ages ranging from 20 to 55 years. Of these, 88 patients had gastric ulcer, 14 duodenal ulcer, three anastomotic ulcer and two others. Dehydrocorydaline was administered orally in a dose of 30 mg. per day 1 three to four times per day). The period of treatment ranged from 7 to about 60 days.

The results in 97 patients having epigastric pain are shown in Table 27.

There was a minimum of such undesirable side ef- Table 27 fects as mydriasis, dryness of mouth, retention of urine,

' i Disappeared Nonpalpltatlpri andponstlpatlpn m p assoclated Wlth Diagnosis 1 2 3 4 weeks Relieved relieved the administration of anti-cholinergic drugs. Although 50 constipation appeared in two patients, pyrosis in two Gastric ulcer 39 17 3 2 2 20 patients and fever in two patients, it was not necessary 3228 3 2 2 1 3 to discontinue administration of the drug and these Anastomotic symptoms spontaneously diminished. ulcer 1 1 V 1 Table 24 Day of effective relief Symptom l 2 3 4 5 6 7 more than Non-effective Total 7 days Pain 2 2 2 3 l 0 4 1 2 l7 Epigastric fulness 2 0 2 l l O l 0 l 8 Acidismus l 0 l l U 0 0 l 3 7 Nausea, vomiting 0 0 0 l O 0 l 0 l 3 Table 25 Diagnosis Diminished Decreased Non-effective Obsecure In 99 patients in which 86 patients had gastric ulcer and 13 patients had duodenal ulcer, ulcer niche was observed by roentgenogram examination. Of 52 patients, there was observed ulcer niche for 1 month and of 47 patients for 2 months or more. The results are shown 5 in Table 28.

Table 28 Period of observing ulcer niche Diagnosis Within one month 2 months or more Healed lmproved Non-improved Healed Improved Non-improved Gastric ulcer 7 2O [2 l8 l6 7 Duodenal ulcer 3 7 3 4 l I In 68 patients including recurred patients, the effectiveness of dehydrocorydaline was observed, according to the location of ulcer. The results are shown in Table 29.

There was not observed any undesirable side effect in 94 patients, while constipation slightly appeared in nine patients, dryness of mouth in two patients, eruption in 1 patient and diarrhea in one patient.

Furthermore, laboratory data of liver function in 37 patients, blood picture in 14 patients, kidney function in four patients and physical examination in four patients were obtained. As the results, before and after the administration of dehydrocorydaline, there was not observed any abnormal symptom.

What is claimed is:

1. An anti-peptic ulcer active substance prepared by the process comprising (a) extracting a tuber of the genus Corydalis with a solvent selected from the group consisting of water, methanol, ethanol, propanol and mixtures thereof, (b) concentrating the resulting extract by vacuum distillation of solvent therefrom, c) acidifying the concentrated extract to a pH of l to 4 by raising the pH of the defatted aqueous acidic phase to 7.5 to 12 by adding thereto a base selected from the group consisting of ammonia, alkali metal hydroxide, alkali metal carbonate and alkali metal bicarbonate, (f) extracting the resulting aqueous alkaline solution with chloroform, dichloromethane, trichlomethane or carbon tetrachloride, separating the halohydrocarbon phase from the aqueous phase by vacuum distillation and recovering said active substance.

2. A process for preparation of an anti-peptic ulcer active substance which comprises extracting tubers of the genus Corydalis with a solvent selected from the group consisting of water, methanol, ethanol, propanol and mixtures thereof, concentrating the extract by distillation of solvent therefrom under subatmospheric pressure, acidifying the concentrated extract to a pH of 1 to 4 by addition thereto of a dilute acid selected from the group consisting of acetic acid, tartaric acid, citric acid, hydrochloric acid, hydrobromic acid and sulphuric acid, contacting the acidified extract with a hydrocarbon solvent selected from the group consisting of petroleum ether and petroleum benzin to remove fatty substances therefrom, raising the pH of the defatted extract to 7.5 12 by adding thereto ammonia, con- I tacting the defatted alkaline solution with a halogenated hydrocarbon selected from the group consisting of chloroform, dichloromethane, trichloroethane and carbon tetrachloride to extract the active substance therefrom, separating the extract from the aqueous solution and distilling the resulting extract to remove the halogenated hydrocarbon solvent from the active substance, and recovering the active substance. 

1. AN ANTI-PEPTIC UCLER ACTIVE SUBSTANCE PREPARED BY THE PROCESS COMPRISING (A) EXTRACTING A TUBER OF THE GENUS CORYDALIS WITH A SOLVENT SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF WATER, METANOL, ETHANOL, PROPANOL AND MIXTURES THEREOF, (B) CONTAINING THE RESULTING EXTRACT BY VACUUM DISTILLATION OF SOLVENT THEREFROM, (C) ACIDIFYING THE CONCENTRATED EXTRACT TO A PH OF 1 TO 4 BY ADDING THERETO ACETIC ACID, TARTARIC ACID, CITRIC ACID, HYDROCHLORIC ACID, HYDROCHLORIC ACID AND SULFURIC ACID, (D) EXTRACTING THE ACIDIFIED AQUEOUS SOLUTION OF THE EXTRACT WITH A HYDROCARBON SOLVENT SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF PETROLEUM ETHER AND PETROLEUM BENZIN TO REMOVE THE FATTY SUBSTANCE THEREFROM, (E) RAISING THE PH OF THE DEFATTED AQUEOUS ACIDIC PHASE TO 7.5 TO 12 BY ADDING THERETO A BASE SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF AMMONIA, ALKALI METAL HYDROXIDE. ALKALI METAL CARBONATE AND ALKALI METAL BICARBONATE, (F) EXTRACTING THE RESULTING AQUEOUS ALKALINE SOLUTION WITH CHLOROFORM, DICHLOROMETHANE, TRICHLOMETHANE OR CARBON TETRACHLORIDE, SEPARATING THE HALOHYDROCARBON PHASE FROM THE AQUEOUS PHASE BY VACUUM DISTILLATION AND RECOVERING SAID ACTIVE SUBSTANCE.
 2. A process for preparation of an anti-peptic ulcer active substance which comprises extracting tubers of the genus Corydalis with a solvent selected from the group consisting of water, methanol, ethanol, propanol and mixtures thereof, concentrating the extract by distillation of solvent therefrom under subatmospheric pressure, acidifying the concentrated extract to a pH of 1 to 4 by addition thereto of a dilute acid selected from the group consisting of acetic acid, tartaric acid, citric acid, hydrochloric acid, hydrobromic acid and sulphuric acid, contacting the acidified extract with a hydrocarbon solvent selected from the group consisting of petroleum ether and petroleum benzin to remove fatty substances therefrom, raising the pH of the defatted extract to 7.5 - 12 by adding thereto ammonia, contacting the defatted alkaline solution with a halogenated hydrocarbon selected from the group consisting of chloroform, dichloromethane, trichloroethane and carbon tetrachloride to extract the active substance therefrom, separating the extract from the aqueous solution and distilling the resulting extract to remove the halogenated hydrocarbon solvent from the active substance, and recovering the active substance. 